Picture this: a large natural shelter cave made out of solid stone with a 90 foot waterfall running over the top of it and a “rim” trail around the upper part of it and you might be able to imagine what my favorite park in the Hocking Hills looks like. Maybe, but still seeing is believing.

Ash Cave is the largest “recess cave” in the state of Ohio. It is named for the large pile of ashes found there by the early settlers to the area and is testimony to the fact that the Shawnee and other Native Americans made use of its excellent acoustics as a meeting room and huge shelter area.

The pile of ashes early pioneers found was a mere 100 feet long, 30 feet wide and 3 feet deep! In

Ash Cave State Park

1877 a test excavation of the ashes revealed arrows, sticks, stalks of coarse grasses, flints, bits of pottery and corn cobs. In later excavations the bones of elk, black bear, skunk, deer, duck, rabbit, box turtle, passenger pigeon, squirrels, wild turkey and wildcat were found. All of these were a part

of the food supply of the Indians.

Parts of the cave are known as the “whispering galleries” and the large rock in the front is known as the “pulpit rock”.

The rim spans a massive 700 feet around a sandstone horseshoe shaped area. The trail back to the cave is only a quarter of a mile and is wheel chair accessible.

Parts of the cave are known as the “whispering galleries” and the large rock in the front is known as the “pulpit rock”.

The rim spans a massive 700 feet around a sandstone horseshoe shaped area. The trail back to the cave is only a quarter of a mile and is wheel chair accessible.

It is beautiful year around with spring wildflowers, summer rays filtering through the towering hemlocks, fall foliage and winter ice formations.

Ash Cave is at the beginning or end of the Grandma Gatewood Trail that links by a hiking trail Cedar Falls and Old Man’s Cave for a 6-mile hike. It is also the end of the trail for the annual Winter Hike. If you have time for one park while you are in the area, don’t miss this one. I highly recommend it!